You can find cornerback Byron Murphy Jr. on the JUGS machine before every practice at TCO Performance Center. Almost like he’s hellbent on disproving the notion that cornerbacks play the position because they can’t catch the ball.
That certainly hasn’t been the case for Murphy over the past month. He has interceptions in three straight games, picking off passes against the Los Angeles Rams, Indianapolis Colts and Jacksonville Jaguars. No cornerback for the Vikings has had a streak that long since 1992.
Asked to describe the heater he’s been on, Murphy smiled and replied, “The biggest thing is catching the ball.” Though it might sound like a simple concept on the surface, Murphy made his ball skills a point of emphasis after dropping a couple of potential interceptions earlier this season.
Those missed opportunities served as an inflection point for special-teams coordinator Matt Daniels. As the man in charge of the turnovers drills in practice, Daniels challenged Murphy to be better in that aspect of his game.
It’s safe to say Murphy has responded with his play as of late.
“He’s done an unbelievable job tracking it and catching it,” Daniels said. “He’s starting to become a ball magnet.”
Indeed. With a couple of months left until the playoffs, Murphy has already tied his career high with four interceptions this season. He’s hoping he can keep thing rolling and has officially set his goal at double-digit interceptions by the time everything is said and done.
“It’s realistic,” Murphy said. “I’ve got some time left. Just have to keep getting them every single week. That’s the plan.”
Even if he doesn’t keep up the same level of production, it seems like Murphy is in the processing of taking the next step in his career.
“He’s playing some really high-level football right now,” defensive coordinator Brian Flores said. “I’m glad we have him, and I’m excited to keep moving forward.”
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